| Kaveri Cauvery | |
|---|---|
      Clockwise from top left: Talakaveri; Kaveri at Srirangapatna; Hogenakkal Falls; Kallanai Dam; Confluence with Bhavani; and Shivanasamudra Falls | |
 Kaveri River basin | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| Region | South India |
| States | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Western Ghats |
| • location | Talakaveri, Kodagu district, Karnataka |
| • coordinates | 12°23′N 75°29′E / 12.383°N 75.483°E |
| • elevation | 1,341 m (4,400 ft) |
| Mouth | Bay of Bengal |
• location | Poompuhar, Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 800 km (500 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 81,155 km2 (31,334 sq mi)[2] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Lower Anaicut (58.5 km upstream of mouth) |
| • average | 919 m3/s (32,500 cu ft/s) (1998-2024)[3] |
| • minimum | 144 m3/s (5,100 cu ft/s)[3] |
| • maximum | 4,075 m3/s (143,900 cu ft/s)[3] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Grand Anicut (140 km upstream of mouth) |
| • average | 400.716 m3/s (14,151.2 cu ft/s) (1976-1979)[5] 1,131 m3/s (39,900 cu ft/s) (1998-2024)[4] |
| • minimum | 78 m3/s (2,800 cu ft/s)[4] |
| • maximum | 4,916 m3/s (173,600 cu ft/s)[4] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavati, Sarabanga, Thirumanimutharu |
| • right | Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Bhavani, Noyyal, Amaravati, Moyar |
The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery) is a major river flowing across Southern India. It is the third largest river in the region after Godavari and Krishna. The catchment area of the Kaveri basin is estimated to be 81,155 km2 (31,334 sq mi) and encompasses the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and the union territory of Puducherry.
The river rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats. The source is located at an elevation of 1,341 m (4,400 ft) in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. The river flows for about 320 km (200 mi) through the Deccan plateau in Karnataka before entering Tamil Nadu. It flows further eastward in Tamil Nadu for 416 km (258 mi) before flowing into the Bay of Bengal near Poompuhar in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu. The river flows for a total length of about 800 km (500 mi). The major tributaries include Amaravati, Arkavati, Bhavani, Hemavati, Kabini, Lakshmana Tirtha, and Noyyal.
There are a number of dams on the river which form part of an extensive irrigation system and are used for the generation of hydroelectric power. The river has supported agriculture for centuries and has served as the lifeline of several kingdoms in the past. Access to the river's waters has been a cause of dispute among the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for decades. The Kaveri basin is a densely populated region, with several towns and cities located on its banks.
The river is considered as sacred by the people of Southern India and is considered to be among the seven holy rivers of India. The river is often personified and worshiped as the goddess Kaveri. The river is mentioned in various Hindu religious texts including the Mahabharata and the Puranas. In ancient Tamil literature, the river is referenced to as Ponni meaning "the golden one".
- ^ Integrated Hydrological Data Book (PDF) (Report). Central Water Commission. p. 92. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ "Cauvery Water". Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "River Discharge and Reservoir Storage Changes - Area 2043". Flood observatory, Colorado University. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "River Discharge and Reservoir Storage Changes - Area 2042". Flood observatory, Colorado University. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Gauging Station - Data Summary". RivDis. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.